FA Šiauliai have officially confirmed their new head coach, appointing Mantas Kuklys to the role after he served as interim manager over the past two Toplyga rounds.
A native of Šiauliai, Kuklys ended his professional playing career at the club before transitioning into coaching. Last season, he was in charge of FA Šiauliai B, who compete in Lithuania’s second tier, and ahead of this campaign he joined the first team’s coaching staff as an assistant to Latvian manager Jurģis Pučinskis.
Pučinskis himself had only recently taken charge of the team, having been appointed as the successor to another Latvian manager who departed after last season. However, a poor start to the current campaign led to his dismissal, opening the door for Kuklys to step in.
In addition to his club duties, Kuklys has also been involved with the Lithuania U21 national team this year, working as an assistant coach and further developing his experience at the international level.
His short spell as interim head coach brought mixed results – one win and one loss – but it was enough to convince the club’s management to hand him the position on a permanent basis. Kuklys also got off to a strong start in his new role, as Šiauliai secured a convincing 4-0 victory over second division side FK Jonava in the Lithuanian Cup yesterday, advancing to the next round.
Kuklys also brings significant experience from his playing days, having earned 38 caps for the Lithuanian national team. At club level, he enjoyed a lengthy career across multiple countries, representing sides such as Žalgiris, Zhetysu in Kazakhstan, and Bohemians 1905 in the Czechia.
Source: https://siauliufa.lt/komandos-vairas-patiketas-mantui-kukliui/
